Automatic starting and stopping mechanism for irrigation systems.



D. ELDER.

AUTOMATIC STARTING AND STOPPING MECHANISM FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. APPLICATION FILED JULY I9, I9I5.

1,272,404, Pafnted July 16-, 1918.

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D. ELDER.

AUTOMATIC STARTING AND STOPPING MECHANISM FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 1915.

. 1,272,404. Patented July 16, 1918.

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DONALD ELDER, or NEHUNGA, NEW ZEALAND, ssrsnon, .BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AUTOMATIC InuIcA'TInc MACHINERY CORPORATION, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC STARTING AND STOPPING MECHANISM FOR IRRIGATION FSYSTEMS.

, residing at Onehunga, AucklairchNew Zealand, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements, in Automatic Starting and Stopping Mechanism for Irrigation and is again automatically supplied to said system, either immediately orafter the lapse of apredetermined period of time.

To this end, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. V i ;In the accompanying drawings V Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation,partly in section, of a sprayer and automatic cutoff mechanism, which may form part of an irrigating or spraying system.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of an irrigating or spraying system. comprising a 1 plurality of V Sprayers and cut-01f mechanisms as illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one embodiment 'of'the automatic starting; and stopping,

or repeating mechanisnu-in accordance with this inventlonf a Fig. 4' is front cation of [certain of the parts shown in Fig.3 and v v 1 Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe parts shown in} Fig. ALI

' f-Fi 6 is a fron't'elevation Ofsil. modified construction of the starting anidstoppmg lllQChZllllSllli-;;., 4 v I The sprayerandcut-oflmechanlsm llustrated in Fig. 1' operates upon the same principle as that described in the specification of 1 the patent referred to. above al-.

specification of Letters Patent.

Sys-' tems, of which the following is a specifica a sprayingand sto) in Patented July 16, 1918.

. Application filed July 19, 1915. Serial No. 40,693.

though the construction differs slightly from that illustrated in said specification.

The mechanism comprises a chamber 1, to which water or other liquid under high pressure is supplied through an inlet 2 and from which saidwater passes through a pipe 3 .to a spraying nozzle 4 of suitable form. A chamber 5 communicates with chamber 1 at its lower end and has a piston 6 movable upwardly therein under the pressureof the water in chamber 1. The chamber 5 is filled with water which is gradually forced therefrom through a restricted passage 7 in an adjustable plug 8, into an upper chamber 9, as the piston 6 is raised, the rate of displacement of the water from chamber 5 determining the time necessary for the piston to reach the limit of its upward movement. Thej'piston 6 is connected by a chain or the like 10, with a lever 11, which is connected by a link 12 with a valve 13 working in the pipe 3, so that when the piston reaches its upper position, the valve 13 closes the pipe 3 and cuts off the passage of the water to the spraying nozzle. The lever 11 is connected at its pivot end to a plug valve 14, so that when the piston 6 reaches its upper position and the spraying nozzle is cut off, the valve l t is turned to establish communication be tween the chamber 1 and an outlet pipe 15. which when a plurality of spraying mechanisms are employed,as in Fig. 2, conducts the water from chamber 1 to the inlet 2 of the chamber 1 of a second mechanism in which the same operation is repeated. l Vhen thesprayer of this second mechanism is cut off, the water passes through pipe 15 to the inlet 2 fof 'a third chamber 1 and so on through the chambers of the plurality of mechanisms, the sprayers of said mechanisms being thnssuccessively put into and out of operation.

Referring now to the automatic starting or repeating, mechanism as illustrated in Figs.35, the pipe 16 (Fig.5) connected to any suitable source of water or other liquid under pressure. and is connected by means of a cock or valve- 17 with a pipe 18, which when the cock is open conducts the water to. the inlet .2 of the chamber 1 of the first sprayer. 1

1 On the stem 19 of the cook .17 is mounted a wheel 20, having agrooved rimfll, in which arearrangedtwo chains22 and 23,

wheel in opposite directions.

which are connected to the rim at 24 in any suitable manner and extend around the Connected to the chain 22 is a bucket 0r water receptacle 25, and a similar bucket 01- receptacle 26 is connected to the chain 23. These buckets are guided for vertical movement by means of guides such as 27 on the sides of a casing 28 in which the mechanism is located. When the cock or valve 17 is closed the buckets 25 and 26 occupy the positions shown in Fig. 3 and'in this position the lower end of the stem 29 of a'valve 30 at the lower end 01": the bucket 26, is in contactrwith a pad 31 of suitable material, on the bottom of the easing, so i that the valve is raised from its seating 32. The bucket 25 is provided with a similar valve '30, valvestem 29 and seating 32,.and pad 31 is also located directly below the valve, the latter, however, engagingthe seating 32 in the upper position of the receptacle.

The buckets or receptacles 25, 26, and the wheel 20 and cock 17 are held in the positions shown in Fig. 3,'by the engagementof a lug or: projection 33 on the wheel rim 21, with a catch 84, this catch being pivoted on a two-part bracket, theparts 35' and 36 of which ar'eshaped to fit'the pipe 18 and are secured thereonby bolts 37. The catch 34 is pressed against a stop 38 by a coiled spring 39, the otherend of which surrounds a 7 tion.

Screw '40 threaded into an ofiset of the bracket 35. A nut 41 is adjustable 011 the screw 40 in order to vary the pressure of the spring.

A second lug or projection 33 is provided on the wheel rim 21 and is adapted to engage a second catch 34 on'the bracket 35, in

order to hold the buckets 25, 26 in the reverse positions, with the cock 17 in open'posi- I A pipe or v conduit 42 of'small diameter communicates with thepipe 16, in advance of thecock 17, preferably being screwed into the bodyof the cock on that side thereof which is connected to the pipe 16. The passage through thepipe 42 iscontrolled by means of two cocks 43 and 44, the latter of which hasfconnected to its stem a lever 45,

theotherend of which is connected to two chains'46, 47, attached at 48, 49 respectively to the'wheel rim 21. When the cock 17 is 'elosed, ofr thesupply of liquid to the pipe 16 7 I The operationofthe mechanism is as tel- 601 o 5 .7 i 7 JWhe'n it'isdesired'to start the irrigating closed/the cock 44 is open, and "vice versa,

and when'the spraying or irrigating system is not in operatlon, the cock 43 may also" be or spraying s'ystem into operation, liquid is supplied to the pipe 16'arid the' cock 43 if 7 closed is opened to allow the escape of water into-the bucket-or receptacle25, in the manaddition tolthe opening of said cock. This 7 turning of the wheel lowers the bucket 25 and raises the bucket 26, closes the cook 44 and opens the cock 17," and the catch 34 snaps behind the hi 83 and holds the wheel and connected parts in this position.

The opening of the cock 17 allows the water to pass through pipe 17 to the inlet 2 of the chamberl of the first sprayer, the water then passing successively to the other Sprayers of the system, in the manner pm viouslydescribed. t .1 The outlet'pipe 15 of the last's'prayer of the system, which pipe may be termed a return pipe, passes into, or is connected with a pipe 45' located in, the casing 28, I said pipe extending into the bucket '26 when the latter is in its elevated position. Thus .-when the last sprayer is ii-om the chamber 1 a put out -ot'operation the water passes reaches its lowest position, its valve 30 is opened, by contact of'the stem 29 with the pad-31, and the water in'the bucket escapes into the casing and is conducted therefrom by suitable means. *The catch 34 willysnap behindthe lug 33 and will hold the in the position shown Fig.3; The 43 and 44 are now open and Water from pipe 16 passes through pipe 42 into the bucket 25 and when the water rea ches a certain level parts cocks inthe bucket its weight becomes suflicient to cause lu '33 to press catch 34 upwardly, ;to I release the wheel '20, which 1s turned in an anti-clockwlse direction 'by the descending bucket and water to again open the cock 17 and close cock 44. The bucket 25"is*en"1pti'ed I by the contact of stem 29 of valve 30 with pad 31, as described with deference to bucke't'26, "Water again passes tothe spraying system and after-I passing" completely therethr'ough, returnsthrough pipe 45. to bucket 26, the filling of which a'gainfcloses the cock 17 and opens the teale 44. 1 f i This starting and stopping of the ing system will be "automatically repeated until the cook. 43 is' agam rclosedf, orithe' water s'upplyto the, conduit 16shut 0H, and" by the adjustment of this cock43.-;;the'

amount of water passingthrough-thc pipei may. be varied softhat afteribeing stopped, the spraying system 15 started into operation again almost immediately, or at- 42', and thus fthe time ta-ken to fillthe bucket f 4 ter the lapse of a number of hours or evendays;

If a single sprayer is used, or a single water chamber 1 having a plurality of Sprayers connected thereto, the outlet pipe 15 thereof would be connected directly to the casing 28, so as to' fill the bucket 26' as soon as the sprayer or sprayers is or are put out of operation;

Should the sprayer niec'hz'in'ism or the last mechanism or a series, be too far away from the casing for the outlet pip'e thereof to be connected to the casin'g,'th'en' Water is caused to pass to the bucket 26, to fill the same, by the provi-sion of a high pressure relief valve 50, of any suitable form, which may be screwed into the cook 17 on the side thereof opposite to that at which pipe 452 is located. lVhen the sprayer mechanism, or the last thereof is cut on, the pressure in the system increases, as there is no escape for the Wat-er, and the il'icrea-sed pressure will cause said relief valve to claim and allow of water through a suitable pipe 51 into the bucket 26,- Which when fi'lled closes the cook 17 as described.

It is to be understood that I do not Wish to limit myself to" the exact form of mechanism illustrated and described herein, since this may be variously modified within the scope of the invention. The inyention may also be applied to spraying systems other than that described in the above mentioned patent specification;

1. hfechanisni of the character described, comprising in commutation, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply," a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, means operated by the pressure of said liquid for controlling the siipply of liquidfto said receptacle, and means operated by the Weight of liquid in said receptacle for closing said valve.

2. Mechanism of the character described", comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a Valve located in said conduit, :1 liqid receptacle, a normally closed conduit for's'up 1 ing'1i' uid to said receptacle; means epeutu by the pressure of said liquid for openii'ig said condnit, and means operated by the Weight of liquid" in said receptacle for closiiig: said valve I p p i lll'e'chanism of the character described, c mprisin in combination. a conduit connected to a source of liqu d supply, a' valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, means operated by the pressure" of said liquid for controlling the' supply of liquid to said receptacle, means operated by the Weigh-tor liquid in recepta'cl'eyfo'r clos ing said 'val'vepa second liquid receptacle,

means connected to; said conduit in advance ofs'aid' valvean'd operatediby the'last men liquid in said receptacle for closing said" valve, a second liquid receptacle,- means conne'cted to said conduit in" advance of said valve and operated the mentioned means for supplying liqnid to said second receptacle, and means operated by the Weight or liquid the second receptacle for opening said valve. V

5. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in cornbinati oi'r, a conduit coin nected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, a] conduit for supplying liquid to said receptacle, li'qiiid' pressure operated a lve means for ontrolling the passage or liquid to said conduit,- midrnenirs aerated by the Weight of liq-hid in said receptacle for re-sing the first mentioned v'alye:

6. Mechanism (if the clxa i -aeter' described. comprising in combination, conduit con nectcd to a source of liquid su]fapl y, a" valve located in" said conduit, a liquid receptacle, means operated by the pressure of said li'q u-id for contiol lil'ig' the supply of liqi'i'id to said receptacle, means for controlling the time of operattoi'i of said pressn1.e operated means; and means operated by the weight of liquid in said receptacle for closing said valve. I v

7. lvfeenanism of the character described, comprising in coinbination', a conduit con nected to a source of liquid supply,- a valve located in said condnit, a liquid receptacle, means operated by the pressure of said liquid for controlling the supply of liquid to s'aid receptacle, :1 second liquid receptacle, a conduit connected to the first conduit in advance of the vain therein, a cock in the last mentioned conduit, means operated by the weight of li uid the first receptacle for closing" said valve and opening said cock, to supply liquid to the secoi'id receptacle,'and l'ileansioperatet'l by the weight of li'cpiid-"inthe' sec-0nd receptacle for opening said a-ye and: closingsaid cock,

'8. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit con nected to a sourceor liquid supply, Yalye located iirsaid-coi' 'di' it, a liquid receptacle, a normally closed conduit for supplying li'qnid' tosaidrecept-acle, means operated by the pressure of said liqnid for opening said condnia a second liquid receptacle, moonduit connected to the first conduit in advance of the valvetherein, a cock in the last mentioned conduit, means operated by the weight of liquid in the first receptacle for closing said valve and opening saidcock, to supply liquid to the second receptacle, and means operated by the Weight of liquid in the second receptacle for opening said valve and closing said cock.

9. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, a wheel connected to the stem of said valve, a flexible connection between said receptacle and saidwheel, and means operated by the pressure of said liquid for controlling the supplyof liquid to said receptacle, the latter being movable by the Weight of liquid therein to turn the Wheel to close thevalve.

l0. Mechanismof the character, described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, a normally closed conduit for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a wheel connected to the stem of said valve, a flexible connection between said receptacle and said wheel, and means operated by the pressure of said liquid for opening thelast mentioned conduit, said receptacle being movable by the weight of liquid thereinto turn the wheel to close the valve. I, r

' 11. Mechanism of the character described,

comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve in said conduit, mechanism operated by the weight of a body of said liquid for closing said valve, and mechanism operated by the pressure of said liquid for supplying liquid to the first named mechanism.

'12. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source ofliquid supply, a valve insaid conduit, mechanism operated by the weight of a body of said liquid for closing said valve, andmechanism operated by the pressure of said liquid after a predetermined time interval for supplying liquid to the first named mechanism. 7'

13. lVIechanism of the character described,

comprising in combination, 'a conduit con nected to a source of liquid supply, a valve in said conduit, mechanism operated by the weight ofa body of said liquid for closing said valve, and valve means operated by the pressure of said liquid for controlling the supply of liquid tothe' first named mechamsm.

l l. Mechanism of the character described,

comprising in-combination, a conduit con-' nected to a source of liquid supply,a valve in said c0nduit,mechanism operated by the weight of a body of said liqu1d for com-' pletely closing said valve, mechanlsm oper of said valve, and means operated by the 7 weight of liquid in said receptacle for overcoming the action of the last mentioned means and closing said valve.

16. Mechanismof the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle,

means operated by the pressure of said liquid for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a wheel connected to the stem of said valve, a catch normally engaging said wheel to prevent turning thereof to close said valve, and a flexible connection betweensaid' receptacle andsaid wheel, said receptacle being movable by'a predetermined weight of liq- V uid therein to overcome said catch and turn the wheel to close the valve. 1 r

17. Mechanism of thecharacter described,

comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valvelocated in said conduit, a liquid receptacle,

a second conduit connected with the; first conduit 1n advance of said valve for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a cock in said second conduit, means operated by the weight of liquid in said receptacle for opening said valve and closing said cock, and means operated by the pressure of said liquid for closing said valve and opening said cock.

1S. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle,

a second conduit connected with the firstconduit in advance of said valve for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a cock in said second conduit, means operated by the weight of liquid in saidreceptacle for opening'said valve and closing'said cock, and

means operated bythe pressureof said liq uid after a predetermined time interval for closing sald valve and openmg sa d cock.

'19-. Mechanism of the character described,

comprising in combination, ajconduit con nected to a source of liquidsupplyea valve located in said con'duit, a: liquid receptacle, means connected with said conduit in advance of said valve for supplyingIliquid to said receptacle, a wheel connected '{iZQiliO stem offsaid valve, aflexible connection bea c tween saidreceptacle and said avheel, *sai'd receptacle being movable by the weight of liquid therein to turn the wheel to open the valve, and means operated by the pressure of said liquid to turn the wheel to close the valve.

20. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, a second conduit connected with the first conduit in advance of said valve for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a cock in said second conduit, a wheel connected to the stem of said valve, a flexible connection between said receptacle and said wheel, said receptacle being movable by the weight of liquid therein to turn the wheel to open the valve, means on said wheel for closing said cock when so turned, and means operated by the pressure of said liquid to turn the wheel to close the valve.

21. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, means connected with said conduit in advance of said valve for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a wheel connected to the stem of said valve, a catch normally engaging said wheel to prevent turning thereof, and a flexible connection between said receptacle and said wheel, said receptacle being movable by the weight of liquid there in to overcome said catch and turn the wheel to open the valve.

Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected with a source of liquid supply, a

valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, means connected with said conduit in advance of said valve for supplying liquid to said receptacle, means operated by the weight of liquid in said receptacle for opening said valve, a second liquid receptacle, a. second conduit normally closed, means operated by the pressure of said liquid after a definite period for opening said second connection between said wheel and said receptacle, the latter being movable by the Weight of liquid therein to turn the wheel and open the valve, a second liquid receptacle, a second conduit normally closed, means operated by the pressure of said liquid after a definite period for opening said second conduit, for supplying liquid to said second receptacle, a flexible connection between said wheel and said receptacle, the latter being movable by the weight of liquid therein to turn the wheel and close said valve.

24. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected with a source of liquid supply, a valve located in said conduit, a liquid receptacle, a second conduit connected with the first conduit in advance of said valve for supplying liquid to said receptacle, a cock in said second conduit, a lever on said cock, a Wheel connected with the stem of said valve, a flexible connection between said wheel and said receptacle, a flexible connection between said wheel and said lever, the receptacle being movable by the weight of liquid therein to turn the wheel to open the valve and close the cock, a second liquid receptacle, a second conduit normally closed, means operated by the pressure of said liquid after a definite period for opening said second conduit, for supplying liquid to said second receptacle, a flexible connection between said wheel and the second receptacle, a second flexible connection between the wheel and the lever of said cock, the receptacle being movable by the weight of liquid therein to turn the wheel to close said valve and open said cock.

25. Mechanism of the character described, comprising in combination, a conduit connected to a source of liquid supply, a valve in said conduit, mechanism operated by the weight of a body of said liquid for closing said valve, mechanism operated by the pressure of said liquid for supplying liquid to the first named mechanism, mechanism operated by the weight of a body of liquid for opening said valve, a second conduit connected to the first conduit in advance of the valve therein, and a cock in said second conduit opened by the first named mechanism to allow the passage of liquid to the last named mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DONALD ELDER. Witnesses:

SoUREN G. Lone, HAROLD M. STARRETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0." 

